July 2018

African American Reception Connects Diverse Summer Associates with Bay Area Law Firm Partners

On Wednesday, July 11, the Bar Association of San Francisco (BASF) held its second Partners and Associates Diversity Reception of the summer, welcoming the African American legal community. In conjunction with the California Association of Black Lawyers and the Charles…

BASF Welcomes Dean A. Christopherson to the Bay Area Mediation Services Panel

Drawing on more than thirty years of practice in commercial, banking and real estate litigation, Dean Christopherson, Dawe & Christopherson, has a successful track record as an evaluative mediator, using a cordial and attentive approach. After reviewing briefs and holding…

Kevin Federline to Britney Spears: Gimme More’ Child Support

Apparently, Britney Spears is not interested in paying more child support to Kevin Federline for their two sons together. Federline receives $20,000 per month from Spears, and he claims that he should receive three times that amount because Spears’ income…

The Privilege and Execution of Search Warrants on Law Offices

The April 2018 raid on the law office of President Trump’s attorney Michael Cohen provides occasion to examine ethical duties to maintain client confidences and California procedures for protecting privileged information in attorney files. In the Cohen matter, the federal…

Interesting News from the World of Estate Planning

Buyer and Owners of Selling Entity Beware of Partner’s Estate Tax Lien Kentucky mining mogul Duane Bennett Sr. died in 2006. The IRS assessed estate tax of $2,783,849. The estate included a 40% partnership interest in two limited partnerships. The…

Huge Need for Tax Professionals’ Pro Bono Help

Help Low-Income Taxpayers Reach Fair Resolutions with the IRS and Tax Court JDC helps low-income people with federal tax controversies before the IRS and U.S. Tax Court. Our clients rely on tax professionals’ pro bono services to access justice and…

Corporate Counsel Eases Financial Worries for Underprivileged Community Members

As Senior Corporate Counsel at a technology company, Matt Sperling is particularly motivated to actively alleviate the struggles and challenges that others in the community are facing. He regularly volunteers to counsel low-income people who have been sued by creditors. …

Say Yes to Pro Bono

If you had asked me ten years ago whether I would be doing pro bono work with any regularity, a candid answer would have begun with “no.” Law firm lawyers, particularly litigators, find it easy to say “no.” No you…

12 Steps to a Healthier and Happier Law Firm

It is no secret that lawyers—and especially lawyers at law firms—have a reputation for unhealthy lifestyles. This includes being sedentary, staring at a screen all day, exhibiting high stress levels, over-caffeinating, eating unhealthy foods, and, in some cases, even abusing…